Bottle with carved and incised design of two phoenixes and peony vinescrolls

Type

Bottle (maebyeong)

Historical period(s)

Goryeo period, mid 12th century

Medium

Stoneware with celadon glaze

Dimension(s)

H x W: 28.5 x 18.8 cm (11 1/4 x 7 3/8 in)

Geography

Korea, Jeollanam-do province, Gangjin county, Gangjin kilns

Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer

Collection

Freer Gallery of Art

Accession Number

F1912.96

Label

This bottle, probably made for use in the royal court, is embellished with the motif of phoenixes among peony scrolls, which signifies peace and prosperity. Masterful carving of the design caused the glaze to pool in the deeper cuts. Where the glaze is thick, it appears darker, outlining the motifs and emphasizing the incised details.

Provenance

To 1912
Yamanaka & Company, New York to 1912 [1]

From 1912 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company, New York in 1912 [2]